CVE-2016-0377 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Administrative Console in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.x before 7.0.0.43, 8.0.x before 8.0.0.13, and 8.5.x before 8.5.5.10 mishandles CSRFtoken cookies, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0377 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 7.x before 7.0.0.43, 8.0.x before 8.0.0.13, and 8.5.x before 8.5.5.10, specifically within the Administrative Console component. This issue represents a significant security weakness that undermines the integrity of the server's administrative interface, potentially exposing sensitive information to authenticated attackers who can leverage cross-site request forgery token management flaws. The Administrative Console serves as the primary interface for system administrators to configure and manage WebSphere applications, making it a critical target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or extract confidential data.
The core technical flaw lies in the improper handling of CSRFtoken cookies within the WebSphere Administrative Console implementation. This vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and management of cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms that should normally prevent unauthorized actions from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. When CSRF tokens are mishandled, they fail to provide the expected security guarantees that protect against malicious exploitation attempts. The flaw allows remote authenticated users to potentially manipulate or extract these tokens, which could then be used to perform unauthorized administrative actions or gain access to sensitive configuration details that should remain protected within the secure administrative environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to exploit the administrative interface for more severe attacks. An authenticated attacker who successfully exploits this weakness could potentially access sensitive system configuration data, view administrative interfaces that should be restricted, or manipulate administrative functions through crafted requests that bypass normal security controls. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on WebSphere Application Server for enterprise application deployment, as it undermines the security posture of critical business applications and infrastructure components. The exposure of sensitive information through this vector could lead to further compromise of the entire WebSphere environment, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to underlying systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions of IBM WebSphere Application Server as specified in the CVE references, which address the CSRFtoken handling deficiencies in the administrative console. Additionally, administrators should review and strengthen their access controls, implement additional monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, and consider network segmentation to limit exposure of the administrative console to trusted networks only. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern access to administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security audits of administrative console usage to detect potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, highlighting its potential for enabling more sophisticated attacks beyond simple information disclosure.